Sorting mixed waste before incineration is cost-effective strategy in reducing GHG emissions, study reveals

BELGIUM – Zero Waste Europe (ZWE), in collaboration with Equanimator, has released a study highlighting that sorting mixed waste before incineration stands as a swift and cost-effective strategy for achieving substantial reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from waste incineration.

The study, titled “Materials or Gases? How to Capture Carbon,” meticulously compares two approaches – Leftover Mixed Waste Sorting (LMWS) and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) – as potential avenues for municipalities and incineration operators to minimize the climate impact of incinerators.

In the context of the European Union’s contemplation of incorporating municipal waste incineration into the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), the study ardently advocates for municipalities and incinerator operators to pragmatically diminish their greenhouse gas emissions.

The study underscores that while incineration with CCS may achieve higher levels of reduction, the associated costs are notably higher, making it somewhat unaffordable.

Conversely, LMWS offers a rapid and cost-effective approach to achieving a substantial reduction in greenhouse gases from incineration, while circumventing further financial burden due to its cheaper and operationally flexible infrastructure.

Dominic Hogg, Director of Equanimator, comments on the report, stating: “The findings reveal that the sorting system emerges as the most cost-effective method for achieving system-wide reductions in CO2 emissions.

“Conversely, carbon capture and storage emerged as the least cost-effective means. The synergy of both approaches, however, demonstrates the potential for the greatest overall reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, cutting the average cost of reduction by approximately half compared to relying on CCS alone.

“Policymakers and waste managers must prioritize a holistic perspective, ensuring that a narrow focus on incineration emissions does not impede the implementation of sorting systems, particularly at operational facilities in the future.”

LMWS, as modeled in the study, involves extracting materials (approximately 215kg per tonne of waste input), with the residual waste subsequently incinerated.

This process targets all metals, a high proportion of plastics, as well as some fiber (paper and cardboard) and polyester and cotton.

The study estimates a central scenario in which the sale of these materials will generate €37.29 from each input tonne that goes through LMWS. This process leads to the export of less energy compared to the baseline scenario, attributed to a decrease in the volume of waste, alongside its reduced carbon content and lower calorific value. Consequently, the carbon remaining in the residual waste, released as CO2, has a reduced fossil component compared to the baseline situation.

On the other hand, the effectiveness of CCS in reducing greenhouse gases depends on the rates of CO2 capture, with the energy utilized in the CCS process typically sourced from the incinerator itself. This results in a lower amount of energy being exported.

The study notes that in scenarios where both LMWS and CCS are applied, coupled with a transition to a completely decarbonized power sector, there are significant implications for greenhouse gas reduction.

Additionally, the study delves into the financial aspects of LMWS and CCS, revealing that the initial costs for using CCS in incineration processes range between €132 and €153 per tonne of CO2, expected to decrease to a range of €122 to €143 per tonne of CO2 as energy is further decarbonized.

These costs surpass the recent price under the ETS, which has mainly ranged between €80 and €90 per tonne of CO2.

In comparison, a combined approach of LMWS and CCS achieves greater CO2 reduction at a more affordable cost per tonne of CO2 compared to CCS alone.

The report assumes that the cost of capital for LMWS and CCS investments is largely similar, potentially underestimating the risks associated with CCS as Carbon Capture Storage remains challenging to technically and economically deliver, despite significant investment and inflated expectations.

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